SANDAKAN: Sandakan Forwarders Association (SFA) Chairman and Sandakan Hire Lorry Transport Association Deputy Chairman Chong Thien Ming has called on the management of Sandakan Port to ensure that all four Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) are maintained in good working condition to prevent further disruptions to port operations and the local economy.
Chong made the call during a meeting on Thursday organised by Datuk Ewon Benedict, Deputy Chief Minister III and Sabah Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, together with Suria Capital Holdings Berhad, led by its Group Managing Director, Datuk Ahmad Rizal Dahli.
The main focus of the meeting was the ongoing mechanical problems affecting Sandakan Port’s Mobile Harbour Cranes, which have disrupted container loading and unloading operations for the past month.
As an immediate measure to address the situation, Suria Capital management has arranged to transfer two additional MHCs from Tawau to Sandakan to ease the operational constraints.
Following a briefing by the management on the current situation, Chong stressed that with four MHCs now available at Sandakan Port, all cranes must be kept fully operational and ready for use.
He highlighted that the prolonged delays had significantly affected port stakeholders, particularly the transportation and logistics sectors.
“We cannot afford to continue hurting Sandakan’s economy while imposing additional costs on businesses and transport operators. The losses incurred through operational delays are substantial and must be addressed urgently,” he said.
Datuk Ahmad Rizal assured the meeting that the necessary repairs and corrective measures were expected to be completed by December. He expressed hope that at least three MHCs would be fully operational by then to handle incoming container vessels.
At present, only one crane, transferred from Tawau, is operational.
Ewon, in his concluding remarks, said Sandakan Port would arrange progress review meetings every three months to keep stakeholders and relevant associations informed of developments and to rebuild confidence in the port’s operations.
Datuk Rizal also revealed that Suria Capital was looking into plans to purchase new cranes and replace ageing equipment as part of its longer-term development and asset replacement strategy.
In addition, Chong proposed that Sandakan Port establish a dedicated maintenance team to oversee the four MHCs and ensure regular servicing and preventive maintenance, so that similar breakdowns could be avoided in the future.
During the meeting, SFA also proposed expanding the existing container yard to provide additional capacity and better accommodate outbound containers, allowing them to be arranged and prepared in advance before vessels arrive for loading.
